A Georgia Peach Abroad

Hello dearies! 

I hope you are all having an amazing week! It is my last week of school, so I am knee deep in projects, papers, and exams. But I really missed you guys! One of my final assignments of the year is a reflection report of the year and whether or not I met my goals for the school year. At first, I thought this was a weird assignment, but now I kind of love it. It has inspired me to look at other areas of my life and realize how amazingly blessed I am. 

One of my favorite quotes is "Comparison is the thief of joy" I have seen this quote credited to both FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, it was on the internet so it really could have been said by Willy Nelson for all I know. (Completely off topic, I just watched Our Idiot Brother, and the dog is named Willy Nelson, best dog name ever!) Anyways, I think the saying is really true and something that I hold dear to my heart. After all, we all think the grass is greener on the other side, even when it is not. Which is why I am instead trying to think of the things that are amazing on my life, and holding them close. Such as:

I finally feel like I am home. It is kind of weird isn't it? I feel like I am exactly where I was meant to be and I am incredibly happy in a place so far from where I was born, and where I am still not entirely fluent in the language. Sure, I have had my fair share of wow this is strange, how am I going to adapt? moments that everyone has when they move to a new place. And I miss certain foods and traditions that I grew up with, and of course friends and family, but I have never felt really homesick, because I am home. 

I have amazing friends. From my blogger girls, to my amazingly funny colleagues, to my close group of school chums, to those friends back in the States who have been great about keeping in touch, and of course my readers. You guys are great! I learned long ago not to involve myself with people who love and create drama, and this is working out pretty great for me. Seriously, you don't need people in your life who give you a bad time or who make you feel bad about yourself. 

It is finally feeling like spring! Honestly, I don't mind the winter here that much. I mean it is cold and all, and having it get dark at 4pm can bum anyone out a bit. But the trade off is that it is light out from 6am until 11 during the spring and summer! It is finally warm enough for picnics, and reading outside, and my favorite thing of all going on long walks. Plus as a special bonus, it is baby bird season. Seriously, nothing makes me as instantly insanely happy as seeing ducklings, cygnet or goslings. (Did you know that a cygnet is a baby swan? Yeah, me either!) You can think it is weird that I get so happy about something so simple, but it really does work. 

My family is so supportive. When I told my family that I was moving abroad, they were nothing but supportive of my dreams. In fact most of them said they knew this day would come. So, even though I had keep my long distance love a secret while I figured things out, telling them I was moving abroad was not hard at all. I knew they would be behind me, like they have been behind me my whole life. 

I try not to gush about the verlo too much on here, but really I am incredibly lucky. I have someone who makes me laugh, finds me funny, and who is so supportive. He is incredibly calm and mellow, which helps me to be calm and mellow. This is a huge thing, I've been compared to Monica from friends a lot in my life and I am uber type A. And since I told the truth about how much my shoulder has actually been bothering me for the last year, he has stepped up incredibly. From making dinner, to chores and grocery shopping. He even has put my hair up in a ponytail for me a few times when I want it up, because I can't right now. Honey, I know you are going to read this and I love you. I'm also sure you are going to point out my grammar mistakes in this post, and I love you for that too. 

While it can be incredibly easy for me to focus on the less than perfect things in my life: I wish I had more money, worked less, and lost weight faster. This doesn't really help anyone.  After reflecting on some of the small things that bring my joy, I came to the realization, which was quite stunning. I am happy! 

What are some of the things in your life that are great? Share them here and pass the love!

Until next time!

look at that cute baby face hiding there!